Welcome fall in number of teenage pregnancies in Fife.

High schools praised for helping to halve numbers

The number of teenage pregnancies in Fife has dropped by almost 50% over the past 10 years.

According to the National Records of Scotland, the under-19s age group has seen a reduction in pregnancies by 48.5%.

After it was revealed that NHS Fife recorded the highest pregnancy rate in the under-18 age group – 25.4 in every 1,000 – a number of initiatives were set up to combat these high figures.

One programme was in Kirkcaldy High School where students were provided access to specialist health services, which included handing out contraception.

Similar programmes were run in Lochgelly High School, which provided a sexual health services for students to make appointments with professionals.

Kathleen Leslie, Conservative councillor for Burntisland, Kinghorn and Western Kirkcaldy, said: “High schools in Fife have done much work not only in terms of sex education but also in providing information on local health hubs and drop-in centres for young people.

“Stigmas about asking where contraception can be accessed have, thankfully, reduced and young people feel more empowered and not afraid to ask.

“In my ward there is a health hub which runs in a community hall during school lunchtimes and is open to anyone from 12 years old. It offers free, confidential advice, free contraception and free pregnancy testing.”

Ms Leslie added that changing attitudes in relation to the availability of contraception and the empowerment of girls not feeling pressurised into sex before they are ready had contributed.

“Contraception has to be part of the dialogue between young people,” she added.

“Teenage pregnancy is only one part of this. Conditions such as HIV may not be spoken about as much these days, but they have not gone away and therefore, that has to be part of the discussion.

“While a lot of fantastic work has and is being done in Fife, most recent figures for under-16 pregnancies show 4.4 per 1,000 which is still above the national (Scotland) average which is three per 1,000. Education is the key here and while there is clearly success it would wrong to become complacent.”

Heather Bett, clinical services manager, said: “Over the course of the last 10 years or so, targeted work in selected school areas involving teachers, school nurses and other community staff has worked well and contributed to the overall reduction.

“The prevention approach was supported with resources for parents and surveys for young people meaning that their views and concerns were addressed.

“Overall, this is a positive picture and, in 2014, Kirkcaldy High School’s initiative achieved a Cosla Excellence Award for their work.”

“Stigmas about asking where contraception can be accessed have, thankfully, reduced and young people feel more empowered and not afraid to ask. COUNCILLOR KATHLEEN LESLIE

Picture: Getty. The under-19s age group has seen an almost 50% reduction in pregnancies.